davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15
AII About Buttons.

The manufacture Of buttons seems to
have made great progress during the
reigns that followed that of William ILL.,,
for buttons came to be used to an
extravagant extent. 1t was the fashion
for gentlemen at the end of the last CEN
tury to wear exceedingly long tail coats
having very large buttons, tight buck
skin breeches buttoned at the knee and
tied with punches of ribbons, and when
CATERS were worn they buttoned all the
way down. This fashion, occasionally
modified, continued until about fifty
years ago, and may be called the golden
age of button making. All duties on
buttons were done away with by SiI
Robert Peel.
A curious button was made about
century ago and worn by the English
dandies of the period. 1t consisted
OF polished brass, and was ruled with
lines SO fine as to be almost microscopic.
The roughness of the surface thus
obtained brokc the reflection of the
light falling on it and gave it prismatic
colors. The beauty of mother of pearl
and its iridescent brilliancy are believed
to be produced by three plates overlap
ping each other rdevenly, and thus they
disperse the light as they reflect it. The
brass buttons appeared iridescent from
the same cause, and as they cost a
guinea each, they were highly fashion
able at the time.
1t might be interesting to trace the
gradual change from the long blue OF
snuff brown coat with gilt buttons and
breeches buttoned at the pockets and
knees, with lcggings buttoned all down,
to the present almost buttonless style Of
garments.
Covered buttons were introduced by
NJ. Sander. He lost his fortune in Den
mark when Lord Nelson bombarded Co.
penhagen, and came over to England to
try and earn a little money, not dreaming
that he would more than recoup himself
for what he had lost. He introduced
first covered button consisting of cloth
or lasting, with an iron shank. His son
improved this into what is called the
| flexible shank button, which, when made
of silk, however, soon wore out.
Another advance was the corded gilt
button. Next it became the fashion to
have buttons to match the colors of the
| clothes. Ivory was too expensive and
difficult to dye. Recourse was had tC
the corozo nut, which is soft, easily cut
and takes any hue required.
The changes and caprices of fortune,
which at one time covers our clothes
with buttons very large and at another
time extremely small, affect, of course,
the button trade and the persons en-
gagged therein. 1t seems preposterous
that the well l-being or misery of a large
portion of our laborious population
should depend upon apparently so trivia
matter, yet it is so.-LondOn Housewife
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15

''Well. tits always a valuable thing to
do something new, and show what a man
can do. OF course, ballooning can be Of
use. They found that out in Paris when
they used to send them out during the
Commune. And theyare useful in time
Of war to reconnoitre the enemy's posi-
tion. l like the feat we'll enough, and
people like to see it, too. There is al
ways more interest in anything that
looks dangerous
Professor Baldwin has received two
handsome gold medals for his feats. One
is from his fellow townsmen Of Quincy
and the other was the offering of the
knights of Pythias. York Sun.
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15

change on the way down, and ii you let
60, why, then you won't make any more
jumps, that is all. But l am not afraid
Of loosing my hold because I have not q
good enough grip. My hands are pretty
strong. The dangerous part Of this
holding on is that my arms get strained
80 through the wrenching thUy get from
the swaying motion and the oscillations
that sometimes they become completely
exhausted. After / have gripped on tr
the ring, get carefully over the rim or
the basket, and then drop. There is no
need to spring out. 1t is not so good,
because the straighter down onS goes tho
easier it is for the parachute to fill out
and be sustained by the air."
"What are your sensations going
down7"
1.-THE first hundred feet are the worst
The parachute does not tillat once, and so
it is like falling sheer through that much
space. And that is another reason why
the drop has to be made little carefully !;
otherwise l might get turned over, and
though, of course, if / hold on twill
come out all right, yet the wrench on my
arms would be violent, and the thing
would shake more. 1t shakes quite
enough, assure you, although 1 have
improved little on it in that respect.
You can fancy what a fall of hundred
feet might be, though it is pretty hard to
imagine it if you have never been through
the thing. The sensation is not alto
gether pleasant. 1t is a giddy sinking
through the air. The condemnation of the
atmosphere under the parachute,
which is shaped like an um-
brella so as to catch the air more readily,
brings me up suddenly. 1t is almost like
a JERK, and to people looking at me |
seem to stop for n moment After that
the descent is more gradual, though it is
quite fast enough for ordinary purposes.
The rate of descent is about 1900 feet a
minute. / have given the point of re-
sistance which the parachute offers with
certain weight and when it is of GER
tain di lmeter good deal of study. The
sensation is pleasant enough in summer.
Floating down through the air in that
way is cool. 1t is something like co ming
down rapidly running elevator. But
your legs are free, and you feel your body
VIII nOInlnB arouHu IL. Inc oSClliabiouS
begin, however, and you are swayed
from side to side like pendulum.
"Do you land lightly, or is it hard to
escape getting bruised2"
"Generallv l have landed without
doing myself any harm. When see ]
am within six or seven feet of the ground
drop. lean land pretty we'll on my
toes, and if feel momentum which
would be likely to throw me violently
down, try to fall on my right side, and
sometimes turn three or four somer-
sauIts. This breaks the force. Of course.
l can exercise no control over myself
while l am in the air. / have to land
wherever chance brings me. If it is good
height from which Idrop, and there is a
strong wind, / can easily come down at
a place mile or more from the place on
the earth underneath the spot jumped
from. lam carried by the wind, so that
I do not feel it blowing on me very much.
When make sn ascension near the
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15
A MIGHTY LEAP.
FALLING from A HEIGHT OF
FIVE THOUSAND FEET.
Exciting Experiences OF Baldwin.
the Parachute Performer
The Strange Sensation OF
Thrilling Feat

A novelty has been supplied to the
lovers of excitement Whether it falls
under the head of aeronautics, gymDas.
tics, or simple dar ing, does not seem
easy to determine. 1t certainly Involves
all three, although the man who supplies
it is as cool as if folding napkin.
Perhaps an explanation of the feat
may enable the reader to appreciate bet
ter how it should be determined. A
young fellow, 81 years of age, ascends,
by means of balloon, sometimes as
high as 5000 feet, throws himself over
from the basket, and drops to the ground.
He is assisted by parachute, or else he
would drop but once, and that once
would he too often.
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15
1.000.O00.000 Tin Cans.

cover 1, 200, 900, 900 cans are used an
nually by the Gamers of this country"
said dealer in canned goods. !.
IA box of tin plates, which weighs
from 1Os to 112 pounds, will make be-
tween seven and eight cases of cans. A
case contains dozen three pound cans.
the general size, or two dozen one pound
cans. Taking the average, a box of tin
will make about 100 cans. Thus, you
see, about 10000, 600 boxes of tin plates
are necessary every year to. make the cans
to hold the goods packed in this country.
The weight of the metal alone is some
thing like 11O, 100000 pounds, and the
cost about $40, ,000,0 ,000."
"Are all the canned goods. brought to
New York;"
New York City is the main source of
supply to the rest of the United States
for canned goods as we'll as for other ar
ticles. 1t isalso the principal port from
which canned goods are sent to Europe,
and there is large trade done now in
this class of business between the United
States and the Old World. The process
of canning has enabled SO many Ameri-
can products to be sent in good order all
over the world that canned goods now
form an important factor in the export
trade. The bulk of the canned goods,
therefore, comes here, although other
large cities are often supplied direct from
the place of canning"
''Is any of the tin produced herea'
None that is used in canning. The
cost OF home manufactured tin plates is
too great at present to come in competi-
ton with the imported metal. Besides,
that which is made here is not fitted fol
cans in which to pack food products. y
Mail and Express.
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15

The above is portrait of Florence
Nightingale whose serious illness was
recently reported by the English papers.
Miss Nightingale was born at Florence,
Iialy, in 1920. She early commenced
career of practical beneficence by or
ganizing associations of lady nurses for
the English army hospitals in the Crimea
during the war with Russia, and acted
us Superintendent. Later a national
testimonial of $25O,0OO, presented to
her in recognition of her noble services,
was at her request devoted to the forma-
ton and maintenance of an institution
for the training and employing of public
nurses for the sick.
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15

seven or eight ribs. The parachute is
about sixteen or eighteen feet in dia-
meter. The cords which are attached
to it come down and fasten to an iron
ring. The ring is what | hold on to
when I drop"
''How is the parachute arrangeda"
t'It is fastened by the top to the side
of the ba loon so that the ring hangs
somewhat below the top Of the car. It
is tied SO that the weight Of my body
when it bears on the fastenings breaks
them loose, and the parachute is free Of
the balloon. / get good hold Of the
iron ring. That is pretty important, you
can bet II isR't easy to make any
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15

The drink called .'toddy', is the juice
extracted from the cocoanut palm, and
is collected in earthware pots called
''chatties," into which The sap runs dur
ing the night from an incision made in
the spathe. In the morning the s.toddy
drawer" connecting his two feet by a
piece of rope, swarms up the trunk of
the tree with which he intends COM
mencing operations, and, having reached
the lofty summit, he empties the con-
tents of the chatty into vessel attached
to his waist In order to save himself
the fatigue of descending each treo and
ascending the next in succession, he
passes from one to another by means of
two ropes, on one of which his bare feet
rest, while with his hands he holds on to
the other. These ropes, in course Of
time become untrustworthy from expo
sure to weather. and have to be oc-
casionally changed. But too often the
unfortunate rope walker, grown careless
by long immunity from accident, neg
lects to renew his perilous bridge, and
the swapping of either rope causes his
death. Were the lower rope to break
there might st III be hope Of clinging to
the other, and so working his way along
but should the upper one break, obvious
ly there is little cha. ce of saving himself, {,
even though the other remains sound.
From this comes the proverb ''If the
supporting rope breaks ones mainstay is
gone. AL the Year Round.
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15
Close Of the Innnisition,

There had been some illness in the
family, and an inquisitlve neighbor asked
little Johnny, the youngest son of the
family. who had been sick, and he an
swered:
ooh, it's my brother, that's ALL"
"What was the matter with him9"
'sNufiin', only he was Just sick"
s.Iknow; but what allied him2"
'sOh, dunno"
"What did ne havei'
s'He had the doctor /"
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15
WHICH Is THE srRoNoEsrf


The Persian king sat on his throne;
Around him. file on file,
The lords Of all his mighty zone,
From India TO the Nile.
With gold and gems resplendent shone,
And smiled TO see him smile.
s'Now tell me, said he, half in scorn,
(which is the strongest thing
Woman, or Wine, or Truth sky y-born,
Or Persias mighty Kingl
Who answers best, purple vest
Shall have and golden ring"
Then spoke the first and said: "Red wine
OF all is strongest far.
Ii fills the heart with joy divine;
Life brightens like star;
The rich and poor embrace benign
And all men brethren are.n
Then said the second, bowling low,
"Earth's strongest is tho King.
He says: go forth; his armies go;
They fear no living thing.
They smite the foe with deadly blow,
And home rich treasures bring"
Then said the third: "Woman of all
OF these is strongest still:
She rules the King within his hall,
And has with each her will.
What man most values, at her call
He brings, her lap to fill.
''Isaw Apame sitting fair
Beside the King of the land;
She plucked the crown from his dark hair,
With air of mock command;
Then placed it on her tresses rare,
And slapped his neddling hand.
Nor frowned the King, but only smiled,
Submissive to her mind;
To her caprice he was child.
So always with mankind;
No matter how untamed and wild.
Woman can tame and bindn
But Truth is stronger still; its hand
Reaches from Heaven above.
1t binds the Ages with band
OF Wisdom and of Love.
Theearth stands still at its command,
The sun and stars do move.
Wine may exalt JUS to the skies,
But then it biteth sore;
A wonan's sweetest witcherles
Win fade when youth is DER;
But Truth eternal never dies,
And gladdens more and more.
The princes shouted: "Great is Truth,
And mightiest over ALI"
Darius said: "Oh, Hebrew Youth,
Stand first in court and hall.
All things forsooth feel Times fierce tooth
But Truth shall never fallln
Henry Peterson in Independen
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15


water, like that at Rockaway Beach last
summer, take upa a life preserver with
me-"
''Do you feel any nervousness or fear
in undertaking the feat9"
81 always know that there is danger in
it. l couldn't know as much about the
subject as do and be ignorant of that.
But do not feel much trepidation in
undertaking it. The chances are that
everything will come out all right, as
they have done in all my descents. l
do not loose my head, and do everything
as coolly as if ! were on the ground. The
strain on the arms is usually the only
thing that bothers me. Imust get that
stopped if can, or else / may have to
drop the business. Once went up in
balloon without any car attached.
There was only ring where held my.
self. T"
What is the greatest height from
which you have jumpcdg"
II have jumped from 5000 feet. I
think, however, that parachute could
be made so that descent from a much
higher altitude would be possible.
Whether man can be invented to stand
the strain on his arms for the length of
time which would be required to descend
in, / do not know You must remember
that you can't stop to rest yourself any
on the way down. You're there on the
end of the parachute, and you feel that
you've got to stay there till your feet
strike the earth. I came down into a
tree once, but didn't hurt myself. ]
have been carried along on the ground
with my parachute for twenty feet.
'Are there any other balloonists who
perform this feat2"
II do not know of any living aeronaut
who has attempted it, but / dare say
there will be others to initiate my ex-
ample. Most Of the balloon gymnasts
have trapeze fastened to . captive bal
loon, and when they are up about thou
sand feet they perform on that"
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15

cordially by the hand. as he said: ''Mister
kake. ye have done moarfor US than any
man that cum here in my time, for ye
have quoted the spurits in the hanted
Tower Of Dunlecky.n-C Chicago Current.
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15
Quite Knowing.

Charles -"she's pretty, but she doesn't
know anything"
Evelyn-"Oh, yes she does; she knows
she's pretty. "-Lus.
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15
Ninety.Nine.Year.Old Twins.

Sally and Hepzibah are twin sista4
ninety years old the 2Sth of last May,
and living in good health and yivacity in
Wnst Dedham, Mass. Formally they
are known as Mrs Cole and Mrs. Everett,
but in their capacity of twins they are
affcctipnately called Sally and Hepzibah
Colburn. Their father, Isaac Colburn,
Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15
The Prophetic Goose Bone.

The old man sits in the chimney seat,
And the spots on tine goose-bone hesScount-
ing;
And he smiles as he feels the welcoming heat,
To what are his thoughts amountinga
He says that the winter'll be fearfullY cold,
Or with the warm weather'll be rich
For, SO, 1t is on the goose bone. foretold;
But really, he cannot tell which.
Good0lps SAN.
Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-30
A reporter of the Washington ST.

A reporter of the Washington Stur call
ed upon Commissioner Millar, of the In
ternal Revenue Bureau, on Friday and
made inquiry as to the report that he in
tends to have samples of the beer put on
the market by the various breweries ana
lyzed. "Yes." he replied, at is true that
we intend to have the beer now being sold
throughout the country tested to deter
mine its purity or impurity. We have an
excellent chemist, and he is getting ready
to make the tests. Oh, no, we shall not
call upon the breweries, respectively, for
samples. We will purchase samples of
the retail dealers and will label each one
distinctly. In that way we will get the
beer Just as it is on the market. OF course
We will not under take to analyze samples
of all the breweries in the country at once.
We will purchase samples here and there
throughout the country, and they will be
sent to Washington. The chemist can
perhaps anafyze forty different samples in
q day. As there will be system tor pro-
curing the beer, no brewer will be able to
tell when his product is to be examined.
By, these official tests the purity of beer
put upon the market will se determined.
So much has been published OF late in re-
gard to the adulteration of beer that it is
deemed necessary to make these official
tests for the protection of the public. The
result of the analysis will be made public
Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-30
Latrobe for Mayor.

The Democratic convention Of Baltimore
city to nominate 5 municipal ticket met
on Wednesday, and nominated Hon. Ferd-
inand C.Latrobe mayor by scclamation and
amid much enthusiasm. Col. John f.
Sudler was nominated for City Surveyor.
The Sun referring to the nomination OF
Mr.. Latrobs says: AS there was no op.
position in the party ranks to Mr.. Latrobe,
be may be regarded as the choice Of all
the elements OF bis party. There seems to
be no movement for an independent can
didate, and, aside from the Independent
action of individuals from personal OF
other motives, the combat promises 10 be
q straightout fight b.tween Mr.. Latrobe
and Mr.. Bartlett"
Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-30

A dispatch from Montgomery, y. Y,
says: "rhree years ago the publisher of a
Chicago monthly medical journal made a
proposition to several thousand country
papers to insert bis advertisement, in re-
turn Tor which he would send his paper
without charge as a premium to all who
paid the county publishers q years sub
scription in advance or otherwise. Every
publisher that accepted his Offer availed
himself Of the privilege of having the
monthly sent free to all his Subscribers
At the end Of the first year the Chicago
man did not cease to send his paper TO all
who were not wise enough to have it dis
continued. When he supposed be had
them between two and three years in his
debt he notified his subscribers by means
of blue envelopes FROM the Chicago and
Cook county Collection Agency. to pay
Immediately from So to 50, in order to
save suit. A large meeting was held at
Newburgh, N. Y, by the indignant blue
envelope holders, who resolved to fight it
out. It is said that Newburgh was struck
for 1000, and how extensively the game
was played throughout the United States
is yet to be ascertained."
Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-30

Canvassing the availability of Mr.. Lin
coin as Presidential candidate lead
ing Western paper practically proposes
postponement of the discussion until after
the New York election this fall. at, as
it is probable, Fred Grant is nominated
for Secretary of the State by the Republi-
cans of New York an opportunity will
thus be afforded to test the sentimental
availability of candidacy resting on
public gratitude for the distinguished
patriotic services OF the father" 1t is
evident then that young Grant is to be
run on his fathers record. If the plan
works well in limited but an important
field it may be employed with applause
in a presidential contest. If it fails in
the preliminary trial it will probably be
found prudent to abandon the larger pro-
ject. If it succeeds why, unless Mr.. Grant
objects, should not team be made which
will utilize the sentiment to its utmost by
assigning him to the second place. Young
Lincoln. of Illinois, and young Grant, OF
New York, their fathers memories plead
for votes in their behalf. The combina-
tion would be strong. As successful pio.
neer Mr.. Grant might be found claiming
the honors of the first place. New York
is the most important State. If he car
carry it in the fall of 'S7, he might lay
claim to it for the fall Of 'sS. -
1t is hardly fattering to the young gen.
tlemen themselves to dismiss all question
OF personal merit and place their candi-
dacy for public office solely upon the
service of sire. But in looking fol
availability political managers are moi
tender of personal feelings. Until the
Grant strength is developed in the fall
the Lincoln programme must be held IN
abeyance.-Sentinel.
Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-30

The municipal authorities of Baltimore
received letter on Monday from Judge
NJ. D. Schenck, of Greensboro, N. c., who
is president of a company with the object
of keeping intact and ornamenting the
Guilford revolutionary battlefield near
Greensboro. Judge Schenck gives full
particulars, and states hat the field of 60
acres purchased by the company com
prises the spot where CORVALLIS was Grip
pied, and the First Maryland Regiment
had their last hand o-hand struggle with
Webster's British brigade, He says that
"Mary land soldiers we're the Spartans of
Green's command, aud should not lie in
unhonored graves. Here Major Addison,
of the First Regiment, was killed, Gunby
was wounded and Howard escaped uu-
hurt" He suggests that $4,000 to 81, 900
would be . nominal sum to be spent for q
to the Maryland soldiers.
Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-30

The arrival Of q cholera infected ship
with 900 passengers from Italian ports is
q matter which now seriously concerns the
quarantine authorities Of New York. 4
number OF the passengers had died OF the
disease on the voyage, and unless the most
rigorous precautions are adopted there is
every possibility Of the dread malady get
ting q ioo'hold in the most populous Of
our cities. Once established in New York
nothing but superhuman vigilence could
keep il out Of Boston, Philadelphia and
Baltimore. For many weeks pas, reports
of tie most alarming character have been
circulated as to the deaths from Asiatic
cholera in the principal cities OF Southers
Italy. particularly the Sicilian ports. Bot
Italy seemed 50 far of aud the winter so
near that very little attention was paid to
the matter. II is q very different thing
now. Our eyes are wide open. The pes
thence is at our doors. Asiatic cholera is
disease which has not appeared in the
United States for perhaps thirty years, ,bu,
when 1t has visited this country il has
proved extremely destructive Iu lis last
great sweep it took in a belt extending
from New York to New Orleans, and il
was particularly severe in Wesern Mary
land